Finally! Some time! I actually started this post a while ago but it got bulldozed with the rest of the things I wanted to do in my free time in the last couple of weeks. I’m finally free for a glorious week or two but I’ll really try to keep up. I have a few posts in mind to write and I will deliver. In any case, the Grand Prix series has just ended and the season’s programs have been revealed. So far, these are my favourites:

Life can be complicated and I think this adage can be used to describe figure skating as well. Some people turn to religion to answer all the questions on life, the universe and everything but in the world of figure skating, you could try and appeal to the capricious Skate Gods for help though they may end up ruining your hopes and dreams. Well, your figure skating-related hopes and dreams at least. I try to avoid the Skate Gods as I do have a few friends who claim to sacrifice babies and kittens to them… In any case, here are a few questions whose answers I’m dying to know.

2. Will Nikolai Morozov ever realize that his choreography sucks? And that Evanescence was only “cool” like… ten years ago?

3. Who is that awesome person who puts on Glee mashups and music at Canadian events while skaters are waiting in the Kiss and Cry?

4. When will Plushenko ever be gone for good?

5. How can the coach who brought Michelle Kwan to stardom be such a misogynist douche?

6. Who do I have to ask permission from to pinch Yuzuru Hanyu’s cheeks?

7. Will the pairs event ever return to its former state of loveliness under the IJS?

8. How does a skater stop themselves from flutzing? (I should probably ask a coach rather than the Skate Gods this question.) And speaking of lutzes, when will the judges give Adam Rippon credit for the Rippon Lutz?

9. What is going on with Marina Zueva? Since the Olympics, her programs have lost that special spark and usual magic.

The predictions continue! Ugh. Why does the GPF have to come at a week where I’m crazy busy. Ok. Predictions and back to work. And maybe some dinner in between. As a result, this will have to be quick. Here goes!

Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy haven’t been completely consistent in their competitions this season and their Pina LP is a work in progress but it’s a great and creative vehicle that can take them to the world title again. If they skate clean, I know that they can fend off the onslaught of Russians. If they don’t, then I see Mother Russia backing Tatiana Volosozhar & Maxim Trankov rather than Yuko Kavaguti & Alexander Smirnov, who have actually been doing well this season. The Chinese pair might get on the podium if one of the three above screw up, though they’re definitely the best of the best so far. The Zhangs definitely lack the expression and consistency to be a captivating pairs team like the other Chinese teammates. They might’ve won silver in Torino, but they only have a ghost of a chance of winning a medal here.

The V/M & D/W rivalry continues! It will be an exciting contest to see who will win. At the moment, I would tentatively put money on Meryl & Charlie because even though Tessa & Scott’s “Funny Face” FD is entertaining, it has too much posing and pauses and not enough skating while D/W’s routine is athletic, driving and showcases their speed and power. It also has really lovely transitions though the program as a whole needs a lot of polish maybe some minor changes so it’s not so dull at the beginning. I also can’t help but feel that the Shibutanis would’ve done a better job with this Die Fledermaus program. In any case, Tessa and Scott need to really vamp up their program

Looking at the list, I’ve got a feeling that one of the European teams will take bronze. Bobrova & Sloviev seem to be getting a few questionable scores and we all know that Mother Russia wants all the medals it can get in Sochi. That and Ilinykh & Katsalapov are still not rising meteorically as everyone had hoped. They’ve really gotten shunted into the back this year. As for Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat… they’re consistent but how they stack up to Mother Russia’s politicking might is beyond me. I’ll draw a name out of a hat and see how it goes.